Improvement in harvester-rakes



TA'IES UNITED TILL-IAM N. VVIIITELEY,

0F SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN HARVESTER-RAKES.

'Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 86,265, dated J auuary 26, 1869.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLiAM N. 'WI-IITELEY, of Springfield, in Clarke county, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Harvesting Machines for Harvesting Grain, Grass, &c.; and I do hereby declare that the same are described and represented in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

My improvements belong to that class of harvesting-machines in which the finger-bar is hinged to the main frame and projects out from it, known as side-draft machines.77

rllhe nature of my invention is to make a combined self -raking reaper and mower with a hinged nger-bar and two driving and supporting wheels.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my improvements, I will proceed to describe their construction and operation, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which the same letters indicate like parts in each of the figures.

Figure l is a perspective view of the ma- `nine complete, as arr( nged for rea-ping, with self and hand raking attachment. Fin. 2 is a lan of the front of the frame and parts con- ,.ected to it. Fin'. 3 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the sta-nd H2. Fig. 5, Sheet 2, shows the platform, rake, and reel horizontal and the main frame inclined. Fig. 6 shows a portion of the rake, with its arch or guide and beam with the 'supports of its pivot. Fig. 7 is a section and elevation of one of the driving-wheels, with the sector-plate and spindle on which it turns,and the rake-crank on the hub of the wheel. Fig. S is a section and elevation of the pinion and the devices for locking it to,`and releasing it from, its shaft. Fig. 9 is an elevation, plan, and section of the shoe at the outer end of the lingerbar. Fig. l0, Sheet 3, shows the machine as a mower, with the reaping' fixtures removed. Fig. l1 is a side elevation, showing the shoe and finger-bar on the ground and elevated. FiO'. l2 is a plan of a portion of the machine arranged for mowing. Fig. 13 is a section of one of the levers which raises the finger-bar. Fig. 14 shows the machine with the finger-bar turned up and fastened, to travel from farm to farm, or elsewhere. Fig. 15 shows t-he rod which holds the 1in ger-bar when it is turned up. Fig. 16 is an elevation and plan of the main shoe and parts working in it.

In the accompanying drawings, A and A1 are the side rails, and B the front bar; B, the center and B2 the rear bar, which are firmly fastened to the under sides of the rails to form the main frame. 'h

A2 are boxes, fastened to the rails for the pinion-shaft As to turn in, as shown in Fig. 12.

B3 are sector-plates, which vibrate on the ends of the boxes A2, and their rear ends traverse in grooves in the stands A3, fastened to the rails.

The hollow spindles B on which the driving and carrying wheels A4 turn, are fastened to thc sector-plates by bolts, as shown in Fig. 7.

The wheels A4 are made in the form shown,

with long hubs, one end of which turns in a groove in the hub of the spindle, and the treads of these wheels are provided with projections extending about halfway across, arranged alternately.

The levers A5 are fastened to the sectorplates, and the driver, by seizing one of the levers and working it up or down, can raise or lower the frame on either wheel and the standards A3, in which the sector-plates traverse, are provided with a series of holes, in which pins' may be inserted to hold the sectors and frame the required height.

The driving-gears C are fastened to the spokes of the wheels A, and turn the pinions (l, Figs. 7 and 8, which turn loose on the shaft A3, and are provided with ratchets G4 for the pawl fastened to the disk G2, and pressed vagainst the ratchet by the spring a, which disk GZ is fastened to the shaft A3 to turn it and operate the cutters.

The disk C2 has a recess in one side for the ratchet-pawl and spring, and a pin in the pawl extends through the disk into the slot a' in the plate G3 on the opposite side of the disk from the pinion, and the side of the slot a next to the shaft is eccentric, and the plate C3 has two arms, by which it may be tlnned to raise the pawl and release the pinion to let the Y machine travel without operating the cutting apparatus. The pinion, disk, and plate, with the parts attached, are shown in Fig. 8in plan and section.

The pinion-shaft A3 carries the bevel-gear E, which turns the pinion El, and shaft E2,

Which turns in boxes fastened to. the bars B Bl', vand carries the ily-wheel E3, which has a crank-pin in it for the link E4, which traverses the cutter-bar and cutters. v

. The brackets F are fastened to the rails A A1, to support the foot-box F1 for the driver; and in the bottom of the foot-box there is a long slot for the bolt which holds the spring of the drivers seat F2, so that it may be set forward or back or adjusted; and when thev machine is used for reaping, the Aseat is ar-l ranged as shown in Fig. l. But when the machine is to be used for mowing, the spring is reversed in the box and the seat on' the spring, and set in the position, shown in Figs. l() and 1l. Y f

The ears G are fastened to the front bar B, to carry the hounds G1, which hold the tongue G2, and the circular plate 'G3 is fastened to the tongue, and provided with lugs projecting into the scores in the plate G4, which turns on the top of G3, and has the double-tree G5 fastened to it. The lugs on the plate G3 and the scores in the plate G4 limit the vibration of a double-tree, and prevent one animal from drawing far ahead of the other.

The bolt H, which passes through the double-tree plates and tongue, has the link H1 hinged to it, which extends back through a slot in the stand H2, fastened to the side of the foot-box, and made in the form shown in the drawing in Figs. 3, and 4 for the lever H3 to work in, which vibrates on a bolt in the stand H2 and traverses the link-H1, to raise and lower the rear of the ame and heel of the finger-bar. Y.

There is a lug on the side of the lever H?, which catches in the scores in the arc of the stand H2; and there isa spring on the opposite side of the lever to press the lug into the scores, so that the driver can press the lever against the spring, and release the lug from the score and move it opposite the next. or another score, and draw the lug into it without stopping the machine.

The front bar B and the rear bar B2 extend out beyond the wheel A4 on the left side of the machine, to support the hanging bracket I, fastened to the under side of the latter, and connected to the former by the rod I1, which forms the pivot for the fore end of the main shoe I2. The rear end of this shoe vibrates on the bolt which connects it to' the rear end of the hanging bracket I. i

There is-a score across the rear part of the shoe I2, in which score the end of the fingerbar J is fastened, which finger-bar is provided with guard-fingers J1 and brackets J2, to hold the cutter-bar J 3, which carries the-cutters, the bar being operated by the link E4.

The stand J4 is fastened on top of the iin'- rger-bar in the shoe I2. This stand and the top of the nger-bar form a groove for the heel of the cutter-bar to traverse in, which has ahole in it for the pivot on the link E4, and the bracket J 5 is fastened to the shoe to hold the link to the cutter-bar, and hold and keep the` The shoe K is made of the form shown in Fig. 9, to surround the end of the finger-bar, Y

and is fastened to it, and provided with a slot for the end of the cutter-bar and cutter to traverse through, against the side of which slot the cutteracts as against a guard-finger to cut the crop; and the rear of 4the slot is lmade A.so large as to leave an open space above and in 'rear of the cutter-bar for the escape of clogging matter, which, if retained, would bind the cutter-bar and prevent it from working freely.

AThe divider K1 is made in the form shown, and fastened to the shoe K. The bolts which fasten the divider to the shoe also fasten the ,stand K2, which carries the pivot of the grainwheel K3, which wheel is made with a groove on the inside between the hub and rim, or with curved spokes, so that the end of the cutterbar and cutter' can work through the shoe iuto the groove or space between the hub and the rimof the wheel.

The platform L is made in the form shown, with its outerV end fastened to the under side Vof .the divider, which extends behind the finger-bar, by the plate L1, asl shown in the drawing.

L2 is a curved guide-board, extending from the rear of the divider along the outer edge of the platform, to which it is fastened, to the rear edge of the platform. This board guides the grain, as it is raked off of the platform, so far from thestanding grain as'to be out of the path of the team in cutting the next swath.

L3 is a curved metal plate, fastened to the platform, for one of the outer teeth of the rake to traverse on and prevent the rake-teeth from wearing the platform. from the nger-bar entirely across and beyond the rear edge of the platform, and the rear end curves over downward, so that the rake, if moved forward, would slip up over the end.

The rake arch or guide L4 is made in the form shown, and fastened to the inner end of the platform and to the shoe L2, and the rakelbow L5 is arranged above the guide, with its ends fastened to the ends of the guide L4. N is the rake. It vibrates on the pivot N1, which is a ball, and the box at the endof the rake is a socket, fitted to theball ofthe pivot, so that the rake can rock and vibrate as required.

The pivot N1 is supported by the bracerods N2-one from the shoe or finger-bar, another from the platform, and the other two from different parts of the rake arch or guide, so that the pivot is moved by the finger-bar and the platform in all their vibrations.

The rake N is traversed by the link N3,which This plate extends connects it to the pin in crank N4 on the hub of the wheel A4, which turns the crank. The head of the crank-pin is a ball, and the box on the link is a socket, so that the link can rock and vibrate in working the rake.

The stand P is made in the form shown, and fastened to the rake, and carries the springlatch P1, which is hinged to one end of the stand, "and vibrates in an upright slot in the: other end, and 1s pressed up by a spring fast- Y ened to the stand under it. This latch P1 passes over the rake-bow L5 when the rake moves forward, and rai'ses and carries the rake up and over the cut and falling grain. Then rthe latch passes off of the bow, and the rake drops onto the rear of the finger-bar at the Abutts of the grain, when the crank moves the rake back on the arch or guide and over the platform', movingthe grain-heads forward, sidewise, and backward off t-he rear of the platform, and drops it so far from the standing grain that it is out of the path of the team in cutting the next swath. As the rake passes off the rear of the platform, it is raised up by the guide, and the teeth are lifted out of the gavel without tangling it. As the rake passed back,the spring-latch was pressed down by the rear of the bow, and passed out from under it, and was raised by the spring, so that as the rake moved forward the latch passed o nto the beam and lifted the rake up, so as to carry it forward over the cut and falling grain, as before mentioned.

The crank N4 is fitted vto turn and traverse on the hub of the wheel A4; and there is a score aroimd the hub of the crank for the end of the bell-crank P2, which vibrates on a pivot in the bar B, and is operated by the lever P5, which lever vibrates on a pivot in a stand fastened to the bar B. This lever P3 extends up near the drivers seat, so that the driver, while the machine is in operation, can traverse thecrank on the hub of the wheel, and move one of the scores on the outer end of the crankhub onto the clutch-pin in the wheel-hub, so that the wheel will turn the crank and operate the rake; and when it has removed the gavel, and while the rake is out of the way of the falling grain, the driver can traverse the crank from the clutch-pin, and let the rake remain at rest until sufficient grain has been cut to form another gavel, when he can traverse the crank and lock it again, and operate the rake to rake off the gavel, thus giving the driver the entire control of the rake, so that he can keep it constantly in operation by the machine, or make it operate at long or short intervals, to

adapt it to the grain being cut by the machine.

P* is the rakerls foot-board, fastened to the rear of the frame; and P5, the rakers stand, from which the gavels may be raked off the platform. by hand.

The reel-standard Q is fastened to the rear of the divider to support the reel-bearer Q1, and the two are provided with two ratchet-plates, and connected by a bolt, so that the upper end ofthe bearer can beset higher or lower.

The lower end of the reel --standard Q2 steps in the rail A, and it is supported by the curved stand Q3, fastened tothe frame, and provided with a series of holes to adjust the standard. The box Q4 is fitted to traverse on this standard, and is fastened by a set-screw. This box has a long hollow hub on. it for the short shaft to turn in, which short shaft has the pulley R 011 it, on which pulley runs a band to the pulley R1 on the pinion-shaft.

The short shaft is connected to the reelshaft R2 by a flexible or universal joint, to allow the shaft to vibrate in connection with the finger-bar and platform. The reel-shaft R2 is made square, andthe centers of the reelframe and the hollow journal or sleeve R5 are fitted to traverse on it. This journal is connected by a rod, S, to the reel-center, so as to traverse the reel on the shaft, and always hold it a proper distance from the bearer in all its vibrations.

' When the gavels are to be raked from the Vplatform by hand, the rake N, rake-bow L5,

and link are all taken olf or removed, so as to be out of the way ofthe hand-rake.

To convert this reaping-machine into amower, the divider, platform, self-raking attachment, reel, and hand-rakers sta-nd are removed, and the machine prepared for mowing by reversing the drivers seat and connecting the revolving track-clearer Sl to the shoe K by a bolt, on which it vibrates, as shown in Fig. 10, the adjustable removable runner S2 being applied to the shoe K by a bolt, so that it may be adjusted, attached, or detached whenever it is desirable. The object and purpose of this runner S2 is to run over and press down tangled grass, so as to makeit pass between. the shoe and the nger next to the shoe, so that the cutters will sever the grass or swath eut from that which is left standing, so that the trackclearer will remove the grass which is cut from that which is left standin 0'. Heretofore, in cutting tangled grass, this shoe would slip along .under the grass eut, and it would remain attached to the standing grass, so that the track-clearer would slip alongunder the cut grass without remoxdng it from that left standing, requiring a laborer to follow the machine and separate the cut from the imc-ut grass, to show the driver where to guide his team in cutting the next swath. Hence it is apparent that the runner S2 saves the labor of one man to follow the machine and separate the cut from the uncut grass.

In mowing, the tongue may be left free to vibrate, and the points of the fingers may be raised by depressing the levers A5 and raising the front of the frame, which will permit the nger-bar and cutters to pass easily over rough ground.

To enable the driver, when mowing, to raise the outer end of the finger-bar, I hang the lever T on the heel of .the shoe IZ, and connect it to the lever T', which vibrates on a bolt in the stand Q5, and extends forward near the drivers seat. The lever T' is provided with vers A5.

asliding bolt, (shown in Figs, 12 and 13,) which catches in a score in the edge of the stand Q3 to hold the lever in position; and the driver, by seizing the lever and drawing the bolt can raise the lever T and depress the lever T, Which acts against a lug on the shoe to raise the finger-bar and cutters, and hold them the height required, as shown in Fig. 10; and the driver can, by means of the lever H3, depressV the front and raise the rear of the frame with the cutting apparatus clear of the ground, as shown in Fig. 11. It is proper to observe that the driving- Wheels and the spindles on which they turn are entirely independent of each other, so that the driver can raise one side of the frame Without the other by depressing one of the le- By turning up the finger-bar, as shown in Fig. 14, and connecting it to the rail A1 byv the brace-rod shown in Figs. 14 and 15, the machine will be mounted on its own Wheels, in order to travel from farm to farm, or else- Where.

: lstantially as described.l

form having an outer rim to conform substantally to thesweep of the rake, ahinged fingerbeam, and a support for the rake, rigidly attached to both finger-beam and platform,'sub

n. WITELEY. 

